Today’s question comes from DaniBP. She asks:

Shannon, What should I bring to Paris in April for a romantic one-week holiday with DH? Our goal is to spend lots of time at the museums, but of course we’ll be eating out every night and stopping for drinks etc during the day as well. I can’t wait to go to the Louvre and the Musee D’Orsay, early April though so I am anticipating it will be chilly.

Hi Dani, The weather in Paris can be tricky. We went in October and I also expecting it to be chilly but it turned out to be warmer than normal, in the 60′s most days. Walking around all day seeing the sights, touring museums, and being down in the metro can really heat you up! Some sections of the Louvre are very warm regardless of the weather outside.

I also found Paris very humid. It didn’t rain often while we were there but a sudden down pour is always on the horizon. Some sections of the city are so densely packed that there is very little air movement. Other areas, like the Champs de Mars in front of the Eiffel tower, can be extremely windy. The huge walking paths in the park are full of sandy dirt that will fly right up into your eyes. So, bring sunglasses!

Your best bet is to dress in layers. I would suggest starting with a couple sleeveless or short sleeve silk blouses. When you hit a room in the Louvre that seems to be keeping the Egyptian antiquities at their desert temps, you’ll be glad to have a light weight breathable top that looks chic on it’s own. I would also pack a few cotton tees or button ups. Bring more tops than you think you’ll need. If it gets at all warm or rainy during your morning sight seeing, you’ll want to hit the hotel in the afternoon to change.

packingtops

Now for bottoms, I would suggest bringing one short skirt and one pencil skirt. Cotton and in a dark color. I saw a ton of Parisians in black skirts 2- 3″ above the knee worn with semi-sheer black tights. I would pack 2 pair of patterned sheer and one pair of heavier tights. Maybe even more, if you plan to wear a skirt or dress to dinner each night. Tights take up so little space in a suitcase, why not make sure your covered.

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If you wear  lot of denim, a black skinny jean and a dark rinse straight leg should carry you through the week, day and night. If it gets warm you can cuff them up above the ankle, I saw a lot of this. If you prefer pants, I’d pack a cotton skinny ankle and straight leg. If you prefer a wider leg, go for it just keep it sleek. Please no khakis lol.

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By now, you may be looking at this thinking, my god do I have to wear all black?! No of course not. Wear what your comfortable in! But I will say, when I was there it was practically all black, all the time. Maybe the city brightens up in the Spring? I’m doubting it becomes a colorful wonderland though. If you want to add some color, I’d think about nudes and blue-ish greys in clothing and keep the real pops on color in accessories. A great bag or scarf. If you keep most of your clothes dark, it will be much easier at the end of the week to put together an outfit with what you have left clean lol.

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Another place you can add some color is in your cardigans. When we were there the mornings were often cold and over cast.  You can start off your day with a silk top,  colorful cardigan, fitted blazer, and a scarf and then remove layers as it warms. If it’s very cold or rainy pack a pair of gloves, a hat, and a compact umbrella in your bag. From what I’ve read April does sound quite rainy, so pack a trench coat. I would bring a lighter weight coat that can be stuffed in a bag or carried over your shoulder.

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If you will be going out for a nice dinner definitely bring a great little black dress. As with all of the other clothing, think sleek and sophisticated with architectural details like pleating instead of ruffles and flowers. Don’t be afraid to bring one ridiculous shoe for evening. If Dh has to carry you from cab to table, all the more romantic. If the shoe has a thicker heel, you may even be able to walk yourself.

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Speaking of shoes. They are the bane of European vacations. What can you bring that will be comfortable for day after day of walking over cobblestone and up and down museum stairs, probably nothing. But you can spare yourself some pain by bringing something with a thick sole. Note that flats absolutely do not count as a comfortable shoe. It will feel like you are walking barefoot over those stones. You need some rubber between you and the road. If you have a high arch like I do, you may even be comfortable with a low heel. Except for the day you go to the Louvre, those stairs will kick your butt. Since you are going in the rainy season, I would consider bringing a pair of booties. Last thing you want is drenched feet!

I’m not even going to offer shoe pics because what is comfortable for my foot may be a complete nightmare for yours. Please take the time to go try on several pairs of shoes. Remember to look for a padded footbed and a thick flexible sole that will protect the bottom of your foot from the ground. Make Dh buy a good pair of shoes too.

Of course you are also going to need to pack socks and under garments. Again, I recommend lightweight and breathable. If it does get humid, the last thing you want is a thick full coverage padded bra that feels like it is smothering you. I packed some thick socks thinking they would cushion my feet but in fact, they just made my poor toes feel like they were in an oven. You can always double up on thinner socks if it’s cold.

So let’s review our packing list:
Silk sleeveless top
Cotton tees and/or button ups
Black skirt or two
Skinny dark denim or pants
Cardigan
Blazer
Trench
Little Black dress
Tights
Compact hat and gloves
Scarf
Walking shoe
Bootie (if you are concerned about wet streets)
Going out heel
Handbag
Large Tote
Breathable socks and under garments
Sunglasses

If you have been to Paris and have any packing tips for DaniBP, please post